In the tennis player André Agassi’s autobiography, Open (definitely among the best of sporting autobiographies), our hero describes the scene when he finally finds himself walking on a beach with his fellow 1992 Wimbledon champion, Steffi Graf, just the two of them. He feels the need to start what he hopes will be a relationship […] … learn more→
Author Archives: Kevin
Writing books gives only backhanded returns
If your kid is bullied and hurt on school grounds, can you sue the school?
The Victorian state government was recently reported to be investigating whether it could make it easier for bullying victims to sue schools. This was prompted by the case of a 13-year-old boy who had to undergo surgery after being bullied at a private school in 2016. All forms of bullying have the potential to create long-term and […] … learn more→
Studying using PowerPoint only makes students more stupid and lecturers are more boring: Let’s not use it
Which university lecturers can forget about their failures when giving lectures. On such occasions, I felt I had lost all students from the start: those who were out of focus, looked lethargic and anxious. Without shame, I focus more on my PowerPoint presentation to save my face. Years later, I can still hear myself reading aloud the points of the presentation and […] … learn more→
Universities in crisis: why a cut in tuition fees and longer loan period would make most students worse off
University tuition fees in England are some of the highest in the world, with an average annual cost of £9,188. This means that English students are paying significantly more for higher education that those in many other countries – including the US which is known for its expensive tuition fees, and where the average student pays […] … learn more→
I was an expert witness against a teacher who taught students to question the Holocaust
When I first set out to research how the Holocaust was being depicted in textbooks in New Jersey’s public schools, my hope was to see what students were being taught about the systematic state-sponsored killingof 6 million Jewish men, women and and children. I never imagined that my work would lead me to serve as a witness against […] … learn more→
Exam stress: Five tips to make it an asset
Last springboard for exams, graduation – or even entry into the workforce, for the oldest of them – the end of the semester represents for students one of the most stressful periods of year. According to a study conducted in the United States, 60% of undergraduates report experiencing above-average stress levels during this period. More than […] … learn more→
As Dead Poets Society turns 30, classroom rapport is still relevant and risky
As the 30th anniversary of the movie Dead Poets Society arrives in June and the 200th birthday of the American poet Walt Whitman also passes, fans of the 1989 movie can take a moment to wonder at its inspirational grip. The film, considered for some as a dramatic highlight of Robin Williams’ career, told the story of students from a conservative elite […] … learn more→
6 ways to protect your mental health from social media’s dangers
More than one-third of American adults view social media as harmful to their mental health, according to a new survey from the American Psychiatric Association. Just 5% view social media as being positive for their mental health, the survey found. Another 45% say it has both positive and negative effects. Two-thirds of the survey’s respondents believe […] … learn more→
Why regional universities are at risk of going under
Unless the federal government changes its funding policy for universities, less well-off ones, particularly regional universities, are going to fail. In Britain, it is already happening. Several bankruptcies are imminent. In Australia, many are clearly in financial difficulties and are trying to raise money any way they can. During the election campaign, ABC’s Four Corners highlighted questionable practices in […] … learn more→
A PhD in 2 years… or less?
I used to get raised eyebrows and looks of disbelief, when I responded to the question: ‘how long did it take you to get your PhD’ with the answer: 2 years. I could have said 14 months to submit and 22months if you include the graduation ceremony, but that would have been pushing the limits […] … learn more→
